9 70. 1 
Am3 


SPECIAL  AGENT  JOHN  G.  AMES, 


IN  REGARD  TO  THE  CONDITION  OF 
THE  MISSION  INDIANS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


WITH  RECOMMENDATIONS. 


REPORT. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  October  28,  1873. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  touching  the  “  number,  loca¬ 
tion,  and  condition  of  the  so-called  Mission  Indians  of  Southern  California,7’  with  such 
recommendations  in  their  behalf  as  seem  best  adapted  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  their 
situation. 

In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I  proceeded  in  May  last  to  Southern  California, 
where,  on  the  1st  of  June,  I  fixed  the  headquarters  of  the  agency  at  Los  Angeles.  At 
this  point  I  was  detained  several  weeks,  in  consequence  of  the  severe  illness  of  a  mem¬ 
ber  of- my  family.  This  detention,  however,  was  rather  favorable  than  otherwise  to 
the  investigation  upon  which  I  was  about  to  enter.  It  gave  me  the  opportunity  of 
learning  the  views  of  many  of  the  citizens  of  Los  Angeles  and  vicinity  concerning  the 
Mission  Indian  question,  of  acquainting  myself  with  many  facts  in  regard  to  the  past 
history  and  management  of  these  Indians,  tending  to  throw  light  upon  their  present 
condition,  and  of  advising  with  those  whom  I  found  best  informed  upon  the  subject 
as  to  what  was  best  to  be  done  with  and  for  them.  It  gave  me,  also,  the  opportunity 
of  learning,  from  the  officers  of  the  laud-office  at  Los  Angeles,  so  far  as  the  records  of 
that  office  indicate,  the  status  of  land  in  Southern  California,  which  will  aid  materially 
in  the  solution  of  this  question.  I  will  say  in  this  connection  that  I  found  the  senti- 
\  ineut  of  the  people  of  Los  Angeles  for  the  most  part  friendly  to  the  Indians,  and  in 
favor  of  the  Government  doing  something  without  delay  in  their  behalf.  There  is  a 
|*  general  feeling  among  those  who  give  any  attention  to  the  subject  that  action  in  the 
premises  has  already  been  too  long  neglected,  increasing  the  grievances  of  which  the 
Indians  complain,  and  making  it  ever  more  difficult  to  remedy  the  evils  to  which  they 
are  subject. 

During  my  stay  at  Los  Angeles  I  had  several  conferences  with  Indians  of  the  San 
Luis  Rey  tribe. 

The  first  on  June  12,  with  certain  Indians  living  in  Los  Angeles,  who  expressed 
their  gratification  that  the  attention  of  the  Government  was  at  length  directed  to 
them,  and  their  hope  that  they  might  soon  be  secure  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights. 
They  desired  especially  that  tlieir  title  to  lands  now  occupied  by  them  should  be  so 
confirmed  that  they  could  not  be  .driven  from  them  by  white  men,  and  thought  if  this 
were  done  the  Indians  could  easily  take  care  of  themselves. 

Information  having  been  communicated  to  the  Indians  living  at  Pala  and  vicinity 
that  an  agent  of  the  Government  had  reached  Los  Angeles,  I  was  in  a  few  days  visited 
by  Olegario,  actual  chief  of  the  large  majority  of  the  San  Luis  Rey  tribe,  though  not 
recognized  as  such  by  the  late  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  California.  Olega¬ 
rio  was  accompanied  by  ten  of  his  captains.  With  these  Indians  I  had  protracted  in¬ 
terviews  on  the  23d  of  June  and  on  the  3d  and  5th  of  July.  They  had  come  to  lay 
their  grievances  before  me  and  to  ask  the  speedy  interposition  of  the  Government  in 
their  behalf. 

The  burden  of  their  complaint  was  to  the  effect  that  they  had  been  gradually  driven 
from  the  lands  which  they  or  their  fathers  once  occupied,  the  title  to  which  they 
thought  justly  belonged  to  them,  until  at  the  present  time  but  little  available  land  re¬ 
mained  to  them  ;  that  white  men  wrere  in  many  cases  endeavoring  to  take  from  them 
the  lands  upon  which  they  are  living,  and  by  the  cultivation  of  which  they  gain  a 
partial  support;  that  they  were  frequently  annoyed  by  the  settlers  interfering  with 
water  upon  which  they  depended  for  irrigation,  corraling  their  stock,  and  subjecting 
them  to  fine  for  the  same,  or  taking  it  from  them  altogether,  threatening  them  with 
violence,  and  in  other  ways  invading  what  they  believe  to  be  their  rights;  that  in  dis¬ 
posing  of  lands  the  agents  of  the  Government  have  never  recognized  the  possessory 
rights  of  the  Indians,  and  that  in  consequence  they  have  been,  and  are  still,  obliged  to 
abandon  lands  which  they  have  held  in  immemorial  possession,  and  to  remove  from 
places  to  which  they  are  specially  attached,  as  the  home  and  the  burial-ground  of  their 
ancestors,  and  this  without  any  provision  being  made  for  them  elsewhere. 

They  desired  the  Government  to  interfere  to  prevent  this  being  done  hereafter,  and 
to  secure  them  in  the  possession  of  the  lands  now  occupied  by  them.  If  this  was  done 
they  could  readily  support  themselves,  and  were  willing  to  do  so,  without  aid  from  the 
Government,  except  in  the  matter  of  farming  implements  and  seed  and  clothing  for  the 
supply  of  their  immediate  wants. 


p 


4 


They  urged,  furthermore,  as  a  special  grievance,  that  their  right  to  elect  their  own 
chief  had  beeu  interfered  with  by  the  late  superintendent,  and  that  the  Government 
recognizes  as  chief  an  Indian  who  was  repudiated  by  nearly  all  the  tribe,  against  whom 
they  protested  at  the  time  of  his  appointment,  two  years  ago,  and  whose  authority 
they  had  since  disregarded.  They  wished  a  new  election  ordered,  that  the  tribe  might 
choose  its  own  chief  and  be  no  longer  even  nominally  subject  to  one  to  whom  so  few 
owned  allegiance. 

In  reply  I  assured  them  of  the  sincere  desire  of  the  Government  to  secure  their 
rights  and  promote  their  interests,  and  of  its  intention  to  do  whatever  might  be  found 
practicable  in  this  direction ;  that  I  had  been  sent  out  by  the  Government  to  hear 
their  story,  to  examine  carefully  into  their  condition  and  recommend  such  measures 
as  seemed  under  the  circumstances  most  desirable ;  that  I  should,  as  soon  as  possible, 
visit  them  in  their  homes  and  see  with  my  own  eyes  how  they  were  situated,  so  that 
I  might  be  better  able  to  advise  in  their  behalf. 

It  was  a  matter  of  special  gratification  to  me  that  at  the  conference  with  Olegario 
and  his  captains,  held  July  3,  General  B.  R.  Cowen,  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Inte¬ 
rior,  was  present  to  listen  to  their  story  and  to  give  them  wise  counsel.  General  Cowen 
expressed  himself  as  particularly  pleased  with  their  appearance,  and  hopeful  of  their 
future  if  they  were  to  be  regarded  as  specimens  of  the  Mission  Indians. 


TOUR  OF  INVESTIGATION. 

On  July  7  I  started  on  a  tour  of  investigation  among  the  Indian  settlements  of 
the  San  Luis  Rey  tribe,  accompanied  by  Mr.  L.  E.  Sleigh,  who,  with  the  approval  of 
the  Indian  Office,  had  been*  appointed  clerk  of  this  agency,  and  by  Mr.  Louis  Warten- 
berg  as  interpreter. 

We  reached  San  Juan  Capistrano  the  next  day,  where  we  called  upon  Rev.  Jos. 
Mutt  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  whom  we  found  much  interested  in  the  Indians 
of  that  locality  and  in  possession  of  information  of  interest  in  regard  to  the  pueblo 
lands  adjacent  to  the  mission  property.  He  showed  us  copies  of  record  matter  ob¬ 
tained  at  great  trouble  and  expense  from  the  archives  at  San  Francisco,  from  Avhich  it 
appears  that  the  pueblo  of  San  Juan  Capistrano  was  in  the  year  1841  actually  subdi¬ 
vided  by  the  Mexican  authorities  among  the  inhabitants,  the  Indians  sharing  with  the 
Mexicans  in  this  distribution. 

If  the  claim  of  the  Indians  residing  there,  of  whom  there  are  about  forty  souls,  can 
"be  established,  as  Rev.  Mr.  Mutt  believes,  the  problem  as  far  as  they  are  concerned  will 
he  easily  solved. 

On  the  11th  we  proceeded  to  San  Luis  Rey,  where  are  to  be  found  half  a  dozen  fam¬ 
ilies  of  Indians  living  upon  land  in  dispute  between  them  and  one  John  Somers.  The 
condition  of  these  Indians,  as  well  as  the  facts  in  the  case  of  this  dispute,  are  ably  set 
before  the  Department  by  the  late  superintendent,  C.  B.  Whiting,  in  a  special  report 
under  date  of  May  19,  1873,  to  which  reference  is  respectfully  made. 

On  the  12th  we  proceeded  thence  to  the  city  of  San  Diego,  remaining  there  until  the 
following  Monday  evening  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with  some  of  the  citizens  of 
the  place  as  to  the  condition  of  the  Indians  of  the  country  and  the  course  best  to  be 
pursued  by  the  Government  to  better  their  condition.  A  diversity  of  opinion  prevails, 
but  all  agree  that  the  disputes  between  the  Indians  and  Americans  involving  titles  to 
land  should  be  speedily  settled. 

Reaching  Pawai  on  Monday  evening,  I  was  there  detained  by  illness  two  days,  but 
sent  Mr.  Sleigh  and  the  interpreter  forward  to  visit  certain  Indian  villages  with  the 
understanding  that  we  should  meet  at  Pala,  the  headquarters  of  the  San  Luis  Rey 
tribe.  Mr.  Sleigh’s  report  of  his  detour  is  here  inserted  : 

“  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  July  31,  1873. 

u  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  my  visit  to  the  Indian 
villages  of  San  Pasqual,  Santa  Ysabel,  and  Agua  Caliente,  in  the  county  of  San  Diego, 
State  of  California. 

“ 1  reached  San  Pasqual  on  the  15th  instant,  from  Pawai,  where  you  were  yourself  de¬ 
tained.  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  house  of  Panto  Lion,  captain  of  the  village,  and 
requested  him  to  summon  his  people  together  on  the  following  morning  for  a  conference, 
at  the  same  time  explaining  to  him  that  we  had  been  sent  by  the  Government  at 
Washington  to  inquire  into  their  condition  and  to  ascertain  if  anything  could  be  done 
by  the  Government  to  aid  them. 

“  The  villagers  began  to  assemble  early.  At  the  appointed  hour  the  captain  rose,  and 
in  a  short  speech  in  the  Indian  language,  which  seemed  to  be  both  eloquent  and  well 
appreciated,  gave  his  hearers  to  understand  the  errand  upon  which  I  visited  them.  A 
lively  interest  was  manifested  by  every  one.  They  complained  of  the  encroachments 
of  their  American  neighbors  upon  their  land,  and  pointed  to  a  house  near  by,  built  by 
one  of  the  more  adventurous  of  his  class,  who  claimed  to  have  pre-empted  the  laud 


5 


upon  which  the  larger  part  of  the  village  lies.  On  calling  upon  the  man  afterward,  I 
found  that  such  was  really  the  case,  and  that  he  had  actually  paid  the  price  of  the 
land  to  the  register  of  the  land-office  of  this  district,  .and  was  daily  expecting  the 
patent  from  Washington.  He  owned  it  was  hard  to  wrest  from  these  well-disposed 
and  industrious  creatures  the  homes  they  had  built  up,  ‘  But,7  said  he, 1  if  I  had  not  done 
it  somebody  else  would,  for  all  agree  that  the  Indian  has  no  right  to  public  lands.77 
These  Indians  further  complain  that  settlers  take  advantage  of  them  in  every  way  pos¬ 
sible  ;  employ  them  to  work  and  insist  on  paying  them  in  trifles  that  are  of  no  account 
to  them  ;  1  dock 7  them  for  imaginary  neglect,  or  fail  entirely  to  pay  them ;  take  up  their 
stock  on  the  slightest  pretext  and  make  exorbitant  charges  for  damages  and  detention 
of  the  stock  seized.  They  are  in  many  cases  unable  to  redeem  it.  They  have  therefore 
little  encouragement  to  work  or  to  raise  stock.  Nor  do  they  care  to  plant  fruit-trees  or 
grape-vines  as  long  as  land  thus  improved  may  be  taken  from  them,  as  has  been  the 
case  in  very  many  instances.  Among  the  little  homes  included  in  the  pre-emption 
claim  above  referred  to  are  those  adorned  with  trees  and  vines.  Instead  of  feeling 
secure  and  happy  in  the  possession  of  what  little  is  left  to  them,  they  are  continually 
filled  with  anxiety.  They  claim  that  they  ought  to  be  allowed  to  remain  where  their 
forefathers  have  iived  for  so  long,  and  that  they  should  be  protected  by  law  in  the 
peaceful  possession  of  the  homes  that  have  been  handed  down  to  them. 

“  I  asked  how  they  would  like  for  their  children  to  go  to  school,  learn  to  speak  the  Eng¬ 
lish  language,  and  to  live  more  like  white  people.  It  would  be  very  nice,  they  replied, 
but  it  would  do  them  little  good  if  they  could  not  have  their  homes  protected. 

“  I  asked  them  how  they  would  like  to  be  moved  to  some  place  where  they  could  be 
better  protected,  have  ground  of  their  own  secured  to  them,  and  more  comfortable  homes. 
The  answer  was,  ‘  Our  fathers  lived  and  died  here,  and  we  ymuld  rather  live  here  than 
at  any  other  place.7 

“  Iu  conclusion  I  assured  them  that  I  should  report  what  I  had  learned  about  them, 
and  that  I  had  little  doubt  but  that  the  Government  at  Washington  would  be  able  to 
do  something  to  better  their  condition,  charging  them  at  the  same  time  to  strive,  as  I 
felt  they  had  been  doing,  to  keep  the  peace  among  themselves  and  with  the  whites. 

“  I  proceeded  thence  by  the  most  direct  route  to  Santa  Ysabel  rancheria.  On  reach¬ 
ing  that  place,  I  found  the  captain,  Augustine,  absent ;  sent  a  messenger  for  him,  and 
also  one  for  the  chief  of  the  Diegenes,  Pablo  Pene,  who  lives  in  a  neighboring  rancheria. 
There  are  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  souls  at  Santa  Ysabel.  They' occupy  the 
finest  valley  of  the  ranch  of  the  same  name,  on  one  side  of  which  are  about  twenty 
adobe  houses  for  winter-quarters,  while  on  the  other  side,  near  their  fields  of  grain,  are  as 
many  brush-houses,  now  occupied.  At  the  time  that  I  reached  the  village,  men,  women, 
and  children  were  scattered  over  the  fields  harvesting  their  grain.  Some  were  reaping, 
some  thrashing,  some  grinding,  while  near  the  houses  women  were  making  it  into 
bread  for  immediate  use.  It  was  altogether  an  interesting  picture  to  look  upon. 

“  The  chief  and  captain  arrived  during  the  night,  and  as  soon  as  possible  in  the  morn¬ 
ing  I  sought  a  conference  with  them  in  relation  to  the  condition  and  wants  of  their 
people.  I  was  glad  to  find  them  exempt  from  mg,ny  of  the  annoyances  of  which  the 
Indians  of  San  Pasqual  complain.  The  land  which  they  occupy  is  claimed  under  a 
grant  from  the  Mexican  government  by  private  parties,  who  have  hesitated  to  under¬ 
take  to  eject  the  Indians  for  fear  of  violence  on  their  part  in  resisting,  as  they  (the 
Indians)  dispute  any  ownership  more  sacred  than  their  own,  and  insist  that  they  should 
not  be  disturbed  in  their  possession. 

“I  reached  Agua  Caliente  on  the  17th  instant.  From  a  notched  stick  given  me  by 
the  captain  of  the  village,  Jos6  Maria  Moro,  it  appears  that  there  are  one  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  Indians  at  that  place.  The  land  upon  which  they  live  has  been  understood 
to  be  of  the  public  domain,  until  a  recent  survey  of  Warner’s  ranch  betrayed  the  fact 
that  it  was  included  within  the  boundary  of  said  ranch.  The  owners  of  the  ranch 
threaten  to  drive  them  away,  and  settlers  have  interfered  with  their  water  privileges, 
and  annoy  them  in  many  ways.  On  the  whole  they  have  little  to  encourage  them,  and 
begin  to  feel  that  the  white  man  is  their  enemy. 

“My  talk  with  the  Indians  of  Santa  Ysabel  and  Agua  Caliente  was  substantially  the 
same  as  at  San  Pasqual.  They  look  to  the  Government  to  relieve  them  of  the  difficul¬ 
ties  under  which  they  now  labor.  They  are  peaceably  disposed,  and  for  the  most 
part  industrious,  and  deserve  better  treatment  than  they  get. 

“At  San  Pasqual  and  Agua  Caliente  I  was  called  upon  by  white  settlers,  the  majority 
of  whom  had  no  good  word  for  their  dusky  neighbors.  1  They  are  thieves ;  they  are 
treacherous ;  they  are  vagabonds.7  It  was  urged  that  they  should  be  taken  to  some 
one  of  the  Territories  and  surrounded  by  soldiers  to  keep  them  at  home,  or  to  some 
island  in  the  sea.  I  found,  however,  little  in  my  journey  to  confirm  such  opinions,  but 
■was  glad  to  note  many  indications  of  thrift.  I  could  but  wonder,  indeed,  that  they 
are  as  reliable,  honest,  and  peaceable  as  I  found  them  to  be.  The  sentiments  enter¬ 
tained  by  very  many  white  men  in  Southern  California  toward  the  Indians  are  well 
illustrated  iu  the  conclusion  to  which  the  proprietor  of  a  small  ranch  near  Temecula 
came  in  presenting  the  subject  to  me  from  his  stand-point.  It  is  well  to  mention  that 


6 


a  family  of  Indians  has  occupied  one  corner  of  liis  ranch  1  from  time  immemorial.’  His 
wise  and  humane  (?)  conclusion  was  that  the  owners  of  large  ranches  should  not  drive 
‘  their  Indians’  away,  but  should  keep  them  to  work  for  them,  and  set  apart  certain 
portions  of  the  ranch  for  them.  *  There  is  worthless  land  enough  upon  every  ranch/ 
he  saidr  ‘  for  Indians  to  live  on.’ 

“The  Indians  of  San  Pasqual  and  Santa  Ysabel  belong  to  the  Diegenes- tribe,  with 
Pable  Pene  chief,  while  those  of  Agua  Caliente  are  Coahuila  Indians,  under  the  chief- 
ship  of  Manuel  Largo.  The  two  tribes  speak  different  dialects;  a  few  in  either  tribe 
can  speak  the  Spanish  language,  but  I  found  none  able  to  converse  in  English.  The 
aggregate  number  of  the  Diegenes  is  estimated  at  one  thousand,  distributed  in  about 
fifteen  rancherias  which  are  situated  in  the  central  and  southern  portions  of  the  county 
of  San  Diego. 

“  All  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  submit. 

“  LUTHER  E.  SLEIGH. 

“Rev.  John  G.  Ames, 

“Special  Agent  Mission  Indians .” 


Proceeding  by  way  of  San  Pasqual  and  Bear  Valley,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the 
country  with  reference  to  a  reservation,  I  reached  Pala  on  the  18th,  where,  on  the  next 
day,  I  had  interviews  with  Jose  Antonio  Sal,  chief,  and  with  Manuelita  Cota,  ex-chief 
of  the  tribe ;  al&o  visited  the  flourishing  Palma  rancheria  on  the  Palma  grant,  reach¬ 
ing  Rincon,  the  residence  of  Olegario,  whom  most  of  the  tribe  acknowledge  as  chief,  the 
same  evening.  Here  I  was  rejoined  by  Mr.  Sleigh  on  the  20th. 

It  being  Sunday,  we  held  in  the  evening  a  religious  service,  which  was  attended  by 
most  of  the  Indians  of  the  rancheria,  who  gave  respectful  attention  to  the  words  ad¬ 
dressed  to  them.  At  their  special  request  this  service  was  concluded  with  the  recital 
of  a  portion  of  the  liturgy  of  the  Catholic  Church,  one  of  their  own  number  leading  and 
the  rest  responding. 

Visiting  the  potrero,  near  by,  on  the  next  day,  I  found  an  Indian  family  of  unusual 
interest,  because  of  their  greater  intelligence  and  generally  recognized  superiority 
among  the  tribe.  The  head  of  the  family  was  absent,  but  his  wife,  “  Margarita,”  known 
far  and  wide  among  the  Indians,  seemed  quite  competent  to  take  the  management  of 
affairs  in  his  absence.  This  Indian  woman  claims  a  half  league  of  land  which  was 
granted  by  the  Mexican  government  to  her  grandmother,  and  which  she  now  holds  by 
her  mother’s  will  in  trust  for  the  heirs  of  the  same.  The  rancheria  upon  this  land  is 
composed  chiefly  of  these  heirs,  who  derive  from  the  land  a  comfortable  subsistence. 

Returning  to  Rincon,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  witness  in  the  evening  one  of  the 
traditional  dances  in  which  the  Indians  take  so  much  delight.  It  was  conducted  in  an 
orderly  manner,  nor  was  it  carried  to  excess,  and  could  hardly  be  regarded  by  any  as 
other  than  a  safe  and  commendable  amusement  for  them. 

On  the  21st,  at  this  place,  a  conference  was  held  with  the  San  Luis  Rey  Indians. 
Runners  had  been  sent  out  to  inform  those  living  in  the  different  rancherias,  and  a  large 
number  had  come  together  eager  to  hear  the  news  from  Washington.  This  tribe  takes 
its  title  from  the  Mission  of  that  name.  It  is  farther  advanced  in  civilization  than  any 
other  tribe  of  the  so-called  Mission  Indians.  They  have  the  reputation  of  being  in¬ 
dustrious,  and  for  the  most  part  peaceable,  and  but  for  the  difficulties  they  labor  under, 
in  consequence  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  land  matters  and  the  disregard  of  their 
rights  by  the  settlers,  would  be  self-sustaining  and  make  reliable  citizens. 

At  present  they  are  in  trouble  about  their  chief,  as  indicated  at  the  conference  at 
Los  Angeles.  A  large  majority  prefer  Olegario,  and  if  an  election  were  held  now  he 
would  doubtless  be  chosen.  He  is  intelligent  above  the  average,  peaceably  disposed 
toward  the  whites,  capable  of  controlling  his  Indians — for  he  is  virtually  chief,  not¬ 
withstanding  the  action  of  the  late  superintendent — and  is  at  the  same  time  an  enthu¬ 
siastic  defender  of  his  people  and  disposed  to  take  advanced  grounds  on  questions  of 
their  rights.  A  more  compeGnt  man  altogether  cannot  be  found  in  the  tribe. 

Manuelita  Cota  and  Francisco  Magla,  ex-chiefs,  and  Jose  Antonio  Sal,  chief,  were 
also  present  at  the  conference.  We  were  obliged  to  employ  two  interpreters,  in  order 
that  all  could  be  made  to  understand  what  we  had  to  say.  I  began  by  reading  my 
letter  of  instruction,  and  explained  the  same  to  them.  Much  satisfaction  was  expressed 
at  the  prospect  of  relief  from  the  Government  at  Washington. 

They  complained  that  they  were  subjected  to  many  indignities  from  white  neighbors 
who  covet  the  lands  occupied  by  them ;  that  the  water  they  had  long  depended  upon 
for  irrigation  had  been  turned  out  of  its  course,  rendering  their  lands  useless.  Lands 
that  they  have  supposed  to  belong  to  them  have,  on  various  pretexts,  been  wrested  from 
them,  they  feel  that  the  Government  should  protect  them  from  injustice  in  such 
matters.  They  also  expressed  a  desire  that  schools  should  be  established  among  them, 
so  that  their  children  may  learn  to  speak  the  English  language  and  live  more  like 
Americans. 

I  explained  to  them,  at  length,  the  law  in  relation  to  the  Government  and  grant  lands 


7 

upon  which  they  live ;  also,  the  laws  of  the  State  relative  to  the  care  of  stock,  and  tres¬ 
pass  by  the  same. 

In  regard  to  the  election  of  a  chief,  about  which  intense  feeling  prevails,  I  told  them 
I  would  refer  the  question  to  the  Government  for  instructions,  as  I  had  no  authority 
to  order  an  election  at  present. 

In  conclusion,  addressing  Olegario  and  his  captains,  and  then  Jos6  Antonio  Sal  and 
his  captains,  I  charged  them  to  see  that  the  peace  be  kept  and  the  rights  of  every¬ 
body’s  property  respected  ;  that  there  should  be  no  strife  among  themselves,  but  that 
all  should  work  together  for  the  common  good. 

The  aggregate  number  of  the  San  Luis  Key  tribe,  as  reported  by  the  several  captains, 
is  nine  hundred  and  seventy-five.  These  are  distributed  in  ten  raucherias,  scattered 
over  the  northwestern  portions  of  San  Diego  County  and  located  some  upon  Govern¬ 
ment  and  some  upon  grant  lands. 

On  the  whole  the  conference  resulted  satisfactorily.  The  Indians  expressed  them¬ 
selves  as  willing  and  anxious  to  live  at  peace  with  the  settlers,  and  ready  to  wait 
patiently,  yet  longer,  for  the  Government  to  take  such  action  as  will  secure  them  in 
the  enjoyment  of  their  rights.  They  preferred  many  requests,  most  of  which  are  im¬ 
plied  in  the  recommendations  which  are  to  follow. 

Leaving  Rincon  we  rode  over  the  mountains  to  Temecula,  where  is  an  Indian  village, 
and  from  thence  returned  to  Los  Angeles. 

On  the  1st  of  August  I  set  out  to  visit  the  Coahuila  Indians.  This  tribe  is  divided 
into  two  sections,  one  under  Cobezon  as  chief,  living  in  San  Gorgonio  Pass,  and  in  the 
desert  beyond ;  the  other,  under  Manuel  Largo,  located  principally  in  the  San  Jacinto 
and  Coahuila  Valleys  south  of  the  San  Jacinto  Mountains.  The  existence  of  the  first- 
mentioned  section  of  this  tribe^has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  recognized  in  any  official  report 
concerning  the  Indians  of  Southern  California. 

Proceeding  by  way  of  San  Bernardino,  I  visited  Mr.  M.  H.  Crafts,  residing  near  San 
Gorgonio  Pass,  whose  letters  to  the  Indian  Office  in  regard  to  these  Indians  had  been 
referred  to  me  by  the  honorable  Commissioner.  I  found  Mr.  Crafts  thoroughly  inter¬ 
ested  in  their  welfare,  and  well  qualified,  through  twelve  years’  acquaintance  and 
friendly  intercourse  with  them,  to  render  me  efficient  service.  He  accompanied  me  in 
my  visit  to  the  desert,  where,  in  our  conference  with  the  Indians,  I  saw  in  their  manifest 
regard  for  him  how  readily  their  confidence  and  good-will  are  awakened  by  kindly 
treatment  and  sympathy. 

A  messenger  was  dispatched  to  summon  Cabezon  and  his  captains  to  meet  me  at  the 
potrero  in  the  San  Gorgonio  Pass,  on  the  following  Wednesday.  Proceeded  through 
the  pass  as  far  as  Warm  Spring  Station  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  a  rancheria  there 
located,  and  of  ascertaining  from  actual  observation  the  condition  of  the  desert  In¬ 
dians,  returning  to  the  potrero  to  meet  Cabezon  according  to  appointment. 

The  venerable  old  man,  supposed  to  be  upwards  of  ninety  years  of  age,  arrived 
about  noon  of  the  day  designated,  at  the  head  of  a  company  of  horsemen  in  single  file, 
heralded  by  a  marshal  in  uniform,  who  announced  the  approach  of  the  chief  and  cap¬ 
tains  with  much  pomp  and  noise.  The  company  seemed  much  exhausted  from  the 
fatigue  of  their  hot  ride  through  the  desert,  while  the  condition  of  their  horses  indi¬ 
cated  great  destitution  in  the  matter  of  pasturage.  Cabezon  had  the  previous  day 
sent  an  urgent  request  that  meat  and  flour  should  be  furnished  them  on  their  arrival, 
as  they  were  not  able  to  supply  themselves  with  food  at  the  conference.  I  could  not 
do  otherwise  than  comply  with  this  request,  purchasing  the  necessary  provision  of  a 
white  settler  in  the  pass.  This  aged  chief  is  in  many  respects  a  remarkable  man.  He 
is  venerated  by  all  his  people,  over  whom  he  has  long  exercised  a  powerful  influence 
and  always  in  the  interest  of  peace  and  good-will  toward  the  whites.  Even  when 
their  rights  have  been  disregarded  and  their  enmity  excited,  he  has  withheld  them 
from  acts  of  hostility,  persuading  them  to  wait  until  the  Government  should  come  to 
their  aid.  Through  his  influence,  also,  the  tribe  has  been  kept  from  allying  itself  with 
the  tribes  on  the  Colorado  River  for  the  purpose  of  making  war  upon  the  whites.  His 
efforts  seem  from  the  first  to  have  been  devoted  to  the  preservation  of  the  peace 
between  the  two  races. 

The  mind  shudders  at  the  contemplation  of  what  would  probably  have  been  the 
results,  to  the  inhabitants  of  San  Bernardino  County  had  Cabezon  and  his  tribe 
assumed  a  different  attitude.  More  than  this,  the  whites  of  that  section  of  California 
have  been  largely  dependent  upon  these  Indians  in  the  care  of  their  farms,  much  of 
the  labor  in  all  departments  of  farm- work  being  performed  by  them.  Many  of  the 
land-owners  would  have  been  subject  to  great  inconvenience  had  not  this  Indian  labor 
been  available.  In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  have  reaped  no  permanent  advantage 
from  their  labors;  they  have  only  become  demoralized  by  their  contact  with  the 
whites. 

After  resting  a  while  and  partaking  of  some  refreshments,  Cabezon  announced  him¬ 
self  ready  to  proceed  with  the  conference.  This  took  about  the  same  direction  as  that 
at  Rincon,  detailed  above. 

The  Indians  dwelt  at  length  upon  the  encroachments  of  the  whites,  depriving  them 


8 


of  lands  to  which  they  asserted  their  sole  ownership,  and  driving  them  hack  into  the 
desert,  where  they  must  soon  perish.  They  were  very  reluctant  to  proceed  to  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  any  other  questions  until  they  should  be  assured  of  the  restoration  of 
lands  wrested  from  them,  or,  at  least,  of  the  peaceable  retention  of  what  they  now  ' 
occupy.  They  were  very  much  disposed  to  eject  by  force  one  or  two  trespassers  who 
were  just  then  annoying  them,  and  were  induced  to  defer  such  action  only  on  my 
assuring  them  that  their  grievances  would  be  made  known  at  Washington,  and  that  I 
felt  confident  the  Government  would  protect  them  in  their  rights. 

They  complained  also  of  being  overlooked  in  the  distribution  of  presents,  saying 
they  had  received  only  the  merest  pittance,  while  other  Indians,  who  were  not  more 
deserving  than  they,  had  been  liberally  supplied.  To  this  I  replied  by  assuring  them 
that  the  Government  would  endeavor  to  prevent  any  unjust  discrimination  hereafter, 
and  that  in  any  future  distribution  of  goods  amongst  the  Indians  of  Southern  Califor¬ 
nia  they  should  receive  their  proper  share. 

They  requested  that  schools  might  be  established  amongst  them,  and  expressed  a 
willingness  to  co-operate  with  the  Government  in  any  effort  it  should  make  for  their 
benefit. 

In  conclusion,  Cabezon  said  he  was  growing  very  old  and  must  soon  die,  but  he 
wished  before  he  passed  away  to  see  his  Indians  settled  upon  lands  which  they  could 
call  their  own,  and  where  they  and  their  children  could  live  unmolested.  At  a  subse¬ 
quent  interview  with  Cobezon  and, a  few  of  his  tribe  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Crafts, 
the  same  topics  were  still  further  discussed,  with  the  additional  request  that  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  regard  his  wish  concerning  his  son,  then  present,  whom  he  had  appointed  his 
successor  as  chief  of  the  Coahuilas. 

The  aggregate  number  of  this  section  of  the  tribe,  as  reported  by  the  several  cap¬ 
tains,  is  one  thousand  and  eighty,  distributed  in  about  twelve  rancherias.  Most  of 
these  rancherias  are  located  in  the  desert  or  amongst  the  mountains  bordering  the 
same,  where  but  limited  opportunities  for  procuring  a  livelihood  are  afforded. 

At  the  Potrero,  however,  where  the  conference  was  held,  there  are,  I  should  judge, 
eight  hundred  acres  of  irrigable  land.  This  land  has  been  occupied  from  time  imme¬ 
morial  by  these  Indians,  and  has,  I  was  told,  been  regarded  as  a  kind  of  retreat  for 
the  squaws  and  the  aged  of  the  tribe,  whenever  they  have  been  driven  back  from  the 
now  more  settled  portions  of  San  Bernardino  County.  The  Potrero  has  been  supposed 
to  be  well  fortified  against  American  settlers  by  the  situation  of  their  village  at  its 
entrance ;  but  within  a  few  months  an  adventurous  white  man,  coming  over  the 
mountain,  has  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  upper  part  of  their  domain,  where  he  con¬ 
structed  a  rude  dwelling  before  his  presence  was  known  to  the  villagers.  They  de¬ 
manded  that  he  be  made  to  give  up  to  them  again  their  former  pasture-grounds,  and 
said  they  would  have  expelled  him  by  force,  had  they  not  heard  of  my  coming.  They, 
however,  reluctantly  consented  to  wait  still  longer  to  enable  me  to  present  the  facts 
in  the  case  to  the  Government  at  Washington.  • 

We  proceeded  thence  by  way  of  San  Bernardiuo  and  Eiverside,  the  nearest  available 
route,  to  visit  that  portion  of  the  tribe  which  recognizes  Manuel  Largo  as  chief,  residing 
principally  in  the  San  J acinto  and  Coahuila  Valleys.  I  found  thedndians  of  San  Jacinto 
involved  in  the  usual  difficulties  with  the  whites.  This  rancheria  is  located  partly  upon 
a  grant,  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  principal  spring  of  water  in  the  valley.  Bitter 
disputes  have  sprung  up  between  the  two  races,  wrhicli  threatened  at  one  time  to  result 
in  acts  of  violence.  The  w'hites  accuse  the  Indians  of  running  off  and  killing  their 
stock.  This,  I  have  no  doubt,  is  sometimes  done,  though  by  no  means  to  the  extent 
alleged. 

Tne  Indians  on  the  other,  hand  accuse  the  whites  of  driving  them  from  their  lands 
and  of  wresting  from  them  their  homes,  in  violation  of  every  principle  of  justice,  pro¬ 
testing  their  unwillingness  to  submit  longer  to  such  treatment,  and  their  purpose  to 
take  matters  into  their  own  hands  unless  the  whites  desist  from  theii;  encroachments 
or  the  Government  protects  them  in  their  rights. 

Those  living  in  the  Coahuila  Valley  are  more  isolated  and  so  less  subject  to  annoy¬ 
ance  from  settlers.  They  have,  however,  driven  off  one  or  two  whites  who  have  at¬ 
tempted  to  squat  upon  their  lands,  and  declare  their  intention  to  pursue  the  same  course 
in  the  future  if  like  attempts  are  made. 

This  section  of  the  Coahuila  tribe  is  less  peaceably  disposed — more  inclined  to  resort 
to  force  in  the  maintenance  of  what  they  believe  to  be  their  rights — than  any  other 
mission  Indians.  They  have,  during  the  past  summer,  been  very  much  excited  by  the 
j>resence  amongst  them  of  the  United  States  marshal,  who  came  for  the  purpose  of 
arresting  certain  parties  accused  of  stealing  stock.  The  state  of  feeling  is  such  that  I 
deem  it  very  important  that  adequate  measures  be  taken  to  preserve  the  peace  and  to 
secure  the  rights  of  both  parties  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

A  conference  was  held  with  Manuel  Largo  and  his  principal  captains,  in  the  Coahuila 
Valley.  This  conference,  in  its  main  features,  so  clearly  resembled  those  already  held, 
that  I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  it. 

The  Indians  under  Manuel  Largo,  who  was  appointed  chief  by  the  late  Superintend- 


9 


ent  Whiting,  number  as  reported  by  their  captains  eight  hundred  and  fifty-seven. 
They  own  more  stock  and  are  less  given  to  agriculture  than  their  fellow  Indians;  this 
is  owing,  in  part,  to  the  fact  that  much  of  their  land  is  situated  at  such  an  elevation 
that  grain  or  vegetables  cannot  be  grown  because  of  frost. 

Eeturning  to  Los  Angeles  we  proceeded  thence  to  San  Diego  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  into  the  condition  of  Indians  residing  in  the  southern  part  of  San  Diego 
County.  Having  heard  that  there  were  quite  a  number  in  the  vicinity  of  Julian,  a 
mining  town  situated  some  seventy  miles  in  the  interior,  we  visited  that  locality. 
Julian  is  a  resort  to  which  many  Indians  flock  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  liquor,  or 
for  purposes  still  more  reprehensible.  No  Indian  village,  however,  is  located  there,  nor 
could  I  learn  of  more  than  two  or  three  rancherias  along  the  southern  border  of  the 
county.  It  was  impracticable  to  hold  any  conference  with  them  from  their  being  so 
much  scattered.  Their  condition  very  closely  resembles  that  of  the  other  Diegenes 
above  referred  to  in  Mr.  Sleigh’s  report.  Quite  a  number  of  this  tribe  are  always  to 
be  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  San  Diego,  and  always  in  a  demoralized  state.  The 
facilities  which  towns  afford  for  vicious  and  debasing  indulgences  prove  to  no  class  more 
disastrous  than  to  the  Indians. 

My  tour  of  investigation  among  the  mission  Indians  has  made  me  more  hopeful  than 
I  had  anticipated  in  regard  to  their  future,  provided  the  Government  is  ready  to  do 
what  ought  to  be  done  for  their  relief. 

In  connection  with  many  characteristics  which  belong  to  them  in  common  with  the 
rest  of  their  race,  they  exhibit  others  more  closely  allying  them  to  the  whites,  of  which 
efficient  use  may  be  made  in  efforts  which  the  Government  shall  undertake  in  their 
behalf.  Their  contact  with  the  whites,  while  in  many  respects  it  has  wrought  harm, 
has  in  others  operated  to  their  advantage,  especially  as  it  will  facilitate  their  future 
acquisition  of  the  arts  of  civilized  life.  While  they  complain  of  the  manner  in  which 
they  have  been  treated  by  the  whites,  I  discovered  very  little  of  the  spirit  of  revenge 
among  them.  So  far  from  this,  I  think  no  other  race  would  have  borne  so  patiently 
and  with  so  little  effort  at  retaliation  the  indignities  and  wrongs  to  which  they  have 
been  subject.  They  are  generally  indolent,  which,  under  the  circumstances,  is  not  a 
matter  of  surprise.  I  believe,  however,  they  can  be  persuaded  to  labor  if  those 
inducements  are  presented  to  them  that  are  most  influential  with  other  men.  They 
are  thriftless  and  wasteful,  but  there  have  been,  in  their  case,  small  encouragements 
toward  the  cultivation  of  better  habits.  They  take  little  thought  of  the  morrow,  sat¬ 
isfied  if  their  present  necessities  are  supplied.  This  fault,  however,  can  be  gradually 
remedied  by  establishing  among  them  that  individual  relation  to  property  which  sub¬ 
sists  among  the  whites,  and  by  fostering  a  desire  for  its  acquisition. 

The  sanctity  of  the  marital  relation  is  sometimes  disregarded  by  them,  but  the  law 
of  chastity  is  most  frequently  violated  through  the  persuasions  of  corrupt  white  men, 
who  look  upon  the  Indian  as  the  defenceless  victim  of  their  lusts.  The  evils  resulting 
from  this  are  so  serious  as  to  demand  the  enactment  of  the  most  stringent  laws  tend¬ 
ing  to  the  suppression  of  this  vice.  Guilty  white  men  should  be  made  to  feel  severely 
the  consequences  of  their  acts.  The  infliction  of  punishment  will  operate  more 
efficiently  than  any  effort  to  keep  the  two  races  separate. 

The  worst  habit  on  the  whole,  in  its  results,  to  which  they  are  addicted  is  intem¬ 
perance.  This  works  fearful  demoralization  among  them.  The  law  forbidding  the  sale 
of  liquor  to  Indians  is  violated  with  impunity.  Notice  has  seldom  been  taken  of  such 
violation  by  those  charged  with  the  execution  of  the  laws,  partly  because  there  has 
been  no  agent  to  interest  himself  in  the  matter,  and  partly  because  public  sentiment 
lias  too  often  regarded  the  Indian  as  lawful  jirey  even  for  whisky  sellers.  Very  unsat¬ 
isfactory  results  have  for  the  most  part  followed  attempts  t*o  secure  conviction  under 
the  law.  The  attention  of  the  Government  is  earnestly  called  to  this  subject.  It  is 
probable  that  some  change  in  the  law  itself,  or  in  the  provisions  for  its  execution,  may 
be  made  by  which  it  shall  be  rendered  more  efficient  in  the  suppression  of  this  evil. 

As  for  other  evils  incident  to  their  situation,  and  other  faults  of  character,  these,  I 
think,  can,  in  large  measure,  be  gradually  remedied  by  the  judicious  management  and 
good  example  of  the  agent  who  shall  be  put  in  charge  of  them,  and  of  his  subordinates, 
and  especially  by  bringing  them  under  the  wholesome  influence  of  law — both  State  ancl 
national— -whose  protection  and  restraint  will  serve  to  promote  order  and  peace,  to 
check  individual  license  and  self-will,  and  to  foster  a  spirit  of  subordination  and  a  just 
regard  for  each  others’  rights.  I  deem  it  of  great  importance  that  these  Indians  should 
be  treated  as  standing  in  the  same  relation  to  the  laws  of  the  land  as  white  men,  and 
should  be  taught  that  violations  of  law  would  subject  them  to  punishment  by  the  civil 
authorities. 


THE  RELATION  OF  THE  MISSION  INDIANS  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Mission  Indians  became  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  Govern¬ 
ment  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo.  By  its  stipulations  they  were  to 
occupy  a  relation  to  this  Government  analogous  to  that  sustained  by  them  to  the  gov- 


10 


eminent  of  Mexico,  and  were  to  be  protected  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  rights  appertain¬ 
ing  to  this  relation.  I  shall  not  here  enter  upon  the  discussion  of  the  question  of  their 
citizenship  under  the  Mexican  republic.  This  question  has  been  recently  discussed  in 
a  report  of  the  late  superintendent,  Mr.  Whiting,  bearing  date  May  19,  1873,  to  which 
attention  is  herewith  called.  In  this  report  Mr.  Whiting  asserts  the  fact  that  they 
were  recognized  as  citizens  by  the  government  of  Mexico  and  as  entitled  to  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  voting.  In  accordance  with  this  view  it  has  been  decided  by  the  United  States 
court  for  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico,  that  the  Indians  within  the  territory  acquired 
by  the  United  States  from  Mexico  are,  by  virtue  of  the  provisions  of  the  eighth  article 
of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo  of  1848,  citizens  of  the  United  States.  If  this 
position  is  well  taken  it  would  seem  that,  on  their  becoming  subject  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  United  States,  they  could  not  justly  be  denied  all  the  special  rights  of  citizen¬ 
ship,  or  be  treated  as  the  Government  has  been  accustomed  to  treat  the  wild  and  un¬ 
civilized  tribes  with  whom  it  has  had  principally  to  deal.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  how¬ 
ever,  they  have  never  been  recognized  as  citizens  by  our  Government,  nor  as  entitled 
to  any  rights  which  a  citizen  is  bound  to  respect. 

They  occupy  an  anomalous  position.  No  treaty  has  ever  been  made  with  them  by 
which  they  could  be  recognized  as  imperium  in  imperio.  They  have  never  assumed  a 
hostile  attitude  toward  the  Government  or  the  settlers,  requiring  the  employment  of 
force  for  their  control.  They  never  urged  their  claims  upon  the  attention  of  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  until  recently,  when  it  has  become  evident  to  them  that  they  will  soon  be  de¬ 
prived  of  everything  they  had  thought  their  own  unless  the  Government  interfere  to. 
prevent  it. 

They  maintain  their  tribal  relationship  and  self  government,  only  in  a  modified  form,, 
holding  themselves  amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  State  of  Cali¬ 
fornia.  Tribal  bonds  are  becoming  gradually  weaker,  and  at  no  distant  day  it  is  proba¬ 
ble  they  may  be  readily  persuaded  to  disolve  this  relationship  altogether.  It  would 
not,  in  my  view,  be  wise  to  attempt  this  dissolution  at  present.  Nor  would  it  be  wise  to 
admit  them  as  a  whole  to  the  privileges  of  the  franchise,  unless  justice  requires  this — 
unless  it  can  be  clearly  shown  that  this  right  was  guaranteed  by  the  treaty  of  Guada¬ 
lupe  Hidalgo.  It  is  very  desirable,  however,  that  they  should  be  admitted  to  all  the 
rights  of  citizenship  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  that  they  should  as  far  as  possible  be 
encouraged  and  helped  to  fit  themselves  for  the  intelligent  exercise  of  these  rights. 
There  are  a  few  who  are  already  well  qualified  and  ready  to  become  citizens,  and  who 
are  willing,  if  necessary  to  this  end,  to  renounce  all  ribal  jurisdiction. 

Three  Indians  at  least  have  recently  made  application  to  be  registered  as  citizens  in 
Los  Angeles  County.  Their  petition  was  refused  by  the  clerk  of  the  county  court,  act¬ 
ing  under  the  advice  of  the  district  attorney,  on  the  sole  ground  of  their  being  Indians. 
They  then  referred  the  matter,  through  their  attorney,  C.  N.  Wilson,  esq.,  to  the 
United  States  commissioner  at  Los  Angeles,  asking  him  to  take  such  action  in  the 
premises  as  would  fully  test  their  rights  in  this  regard  under  the  Constitution.  He 
refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  case,  further  than  to  transmit  the  affidavits 
of  the  Indians  to  the  district  attorney  at  San  Francisco.  Here  the  matter  rests  for  the 
present,  with  little  prospect  that  anything  in  their  interest  will  be  done  by  the  officers 
of  justice,  to  whom  they  have  made  appeal.  Should  this  claim  continue  to  be  disre¬ 
garded,  the  attention  of  the  Government  will  again  be  called  to  their  case,  in  the 
hope  that  some  provision  will  be  made,  if  not  already  existing,  by  which  they,  and 
such  as  they,  can  readily  secure  their  recognition  as  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

I  deem  it  important  that  whatever  hinders  this  should,  so  far  as  possible,  be  re¬ 
moved,  and  that  in  the  management  of  these  Indians  the  Government  should  always 
keep  in  view  their  incorporation  with  the  body  politic  at  the  earliest  practicable  mo¬ 
ment. 


THE  RELATION  OF  THE  MISSION  INDIANS  TO  THE  LANDS. 

It  will  be  observed  one  claim  which  these  Indians  urge  with  much  feeling  is  their 
right  and  title  to  the  lands  upon  which  they  and  their  fathers  have  lived  from  time 
immemorial.  They  assert  their  former  ownership  of  all  this  country,  and  say  that  no 
purchase  of  any  portion  of  it  by  white  men  has  ever  been  made.  Much  of  it,  however, 
has  been  forcibly  taken  from  them  Avithout  their  consent.  They  ask  that  this  be  no 
longer  permitted,  and  that  the  Go\rernment  secure  them  in  the  possession  of  the  few 
acres  now  occupied  by  them. 

HoweArer  valid  this  claim  might  have  been  under  the  Spanish  government,  and  with 
whate\Ter  show  of  justice  it  may  iioav  be  urged,  it  has,  I  take  it,  no  real  validity  in  law 
as  applied  to  lands  in  general.  Since  the  acquisition  of  this  territory  the  United  States 
have  never  acknowledged  any  Indian  title  to  the  land.  With  other  tribes  treaties  have 
been  entered  into,  Avith  a  view  to  the  extinguishment  of  their  title,  invoTv  ing  often  large 
expenditures  of  the  public  money.  As  regards  these  Indians,  however,  a  committee  of 
the  United  States  Senate,  to  whom  the  matter  was  referred,  reported  that  no  such 
treaty  was  necessary,  “  that  the  United  States,  acquiring  possession  of  the  territory 


11 


from  Mexico,  succeeded  to  its  rights  in  the  soil ;  and  as  that  government  regarded  itself 
as  the  absolute  and  unqualified  owner  of  it,  and  held  that  the  Indian  had  no  usufruc¬ 
tuary  or  other  rights  therein  which  were  to  be  in  any  manner  respected,  they,  the  United 
States,  were  under  no  obligations  to  treat  with  the  Indians  occupying  the  same  for  the 
extinguishment  of  their  title.” 

In  accordance  with  this  view,  the  assumed  Indian  title  has  always  been  disregarded 
by  the  land  officers  of  the  Government  in  this  district  and  by  settlers.  As  expressed 
by  the  present  register  of  the  land-office,  the  location  of  an  Indian  family  or  families 
on  land  upon  which  a  white  man  desires  to  settle  is,  in  law,  no  more  a  bar  to  such  set¬ 
tlement  than  would  be  the  presence  of  a  stray  sheep  or  cow.  And  so  like  sheep  or 
cattle  they  have  been  .too  often  driven  from  their  homes  and  their  cultivated  fields, 
the  Government,  through  its  officers,  refusing  to  hear  their  protests,  as  though  in  equity 
as  well  as  in  law  they  had  no  rights  in  the  least  deserving  consideration.  Such, 
however,  having  been,  and  still  being,  the  theory  and  practice  of  the  Government,  I 
cannot  think  it  possible  that  it  will  now  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  complaints  and  to  the 
petitions  of  these  Indians.  Every  consideration  of  justice  and  humanity,  and  a  regard 
for  their  continued  peace  and  good  will,  unite  to  urge  the  Government  to  make  imme¬ 
diate  provision  for  the  few  that  remain  of  these  once  populous  tribes,  to  secure  them 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights  and  in  the  possession  of  homes  which  they  can  truly 
call  their  own. 

The  question  of  the  equitable  title  of  the  Mission  Indians  to  lands  in  California  is 
discussed  in  the  report  of  Superintendent  Whiting,  above  alluded  to,  to  which  atten¬ 
tion  is  again  called. 

The  policy  of  the  Spanish,  and  subsequently  of  the  Mexican  government,  was  to 
intrust  the  care  of  the  Indians  to  the  priests  of  the  Catholic  Church.  These  priests 
were  authorized  to  establish  missions  wherever  required,  and  to  gather  the  Indians 
of  the  vicinity  into  communities  about  the  missions.  Lands  to  the  amount  of  from 
four  to  eleven  leagues  were  assigned  for  the  use  of  each  mission.  The  success  which 
attended  the  efforts  of  these  missionaries  is  attested  by  the  interesting,  and  in  some 
cases  remarkable  ruins  of  the  mission  buildings  erected  by  the  Indians  under  their 
supervision,  by  the  degree  of  civilization  to  which  the  Indians  were  raised  through 
their  influence  and  instruction,  by  the  fact  that  at  some  of  these  missions  as  many 
as  five  thousand  Indians  were  gathered;  that  upon  the  lands  of  the  mission  as  many 
as  seventy-five  thousand  head  of  cattle  were  kept,  besides  large  flocks  of  sheep  and 
other  stock,  while  corn  and  other  articles  of  food  were  grown  sufficient  for  their  sup¬ 
port. 

I  am  led  to  believe  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  Spanish  government  to  erect  these 
missions  into  pueblos,  and  to  distribute  the  lands  among  the  Indians,  giving  to  each 
family  a  certain  number  of  acres  as  soon  as  they  were  sufficiently  civilized  to  warrant 
such  a  step.  This  distribution  of  lands,  however,  was  never  made  under  the  Spanish 
rule,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  informed,  in  only  one  instance  under  the  Mexican  rule.  I  refer 
to  the  mission  lands  of  San  Juan  Capistrano,  which,  according  to  documents  now  in 
the  archives  at  San  Francisco,  were  so  distributed  by  order  of  the  Mexican  govern¬ 
ment.  Upon  some  of  these  lands  Indian  families  are  still  living,  claiming  possession, 
and  justly,  I  think,  in  virtue  of  this  action. 

A  large  portion  of  these  mission  lands  is  now  included  in  grants  claimed  to  have 
been  made  previous  to  the  cession  of  this  country  to  the  United  States.  Nearly  all  the 
rest  has  been  taken  uphinder  the  pre-emption  and  homestead  laws,  so  that  of  the  many 
leagues  once  set  apart  for  the  special  benefit  of  these  Indians,  and  designed  as  their 
perpetual  possession,  not  one  now  remains  to  them. 

Many  Indians  are  at  present  living  upon  grants  which  have  been  confirmed  by  the 
United  States.  Whether  they  are  entitled  to  remain  there  and  to  enjoy  the  use  of  the 
land,  or  are  to  be  regarded  as  trespassers,  is  a  question  which  must  soon  be  decided. 

I  have  been  frequently  told  that  whenever  grants  were  made  under  the  Mexican 
government  the  right  of  any  Indians  then  located  upon  the  grant  to  a  continual  resi¬ 
dence  thereon  was  reserved,  and  the  grantee  was  forbidden  to  eject  or  disturb  them.  I 
have  not  been  able  to  verify  this  assertion.  The  Indians  have  assumed  its  correctness, 
and  many  of  the  grant  owners  have  hitherto  seemed  to  acquiesce ;  at  least  they  have 
suffered  the  Indians  to  remain  and  enjoy  the  use  often  of  the  best  portion  of  the  grant, 
that,  namely,  whose  proximity  to  streams  or  springs  of  water  makes  it  available  for 
agricultural  purposes.  The  time  will  soon  come,  however,  when  they  will  demand, 
and,  I  think  on  general  principles,  with  justice,  the  removal  of  these  Indians.  But, 
irrespective  of  such  demand,  the  interest  of  the  Indians  will,  in  my  view,  be  best  pro¬ 
moted  by  removing  them  from  grant-lands  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment,  and 
settling  them  upon  lands  to  wffiich  the  Government  can  give  them  title,  and  where  all 
improvements  shall  redound  to  their  own  and  their  children’s  benefit. 

MEASURES  OF  RELIEF  DISCUSSED. 

In  view  of  these  facts  to  which  attention  has  now  been  called ;  in  view  especially  of 
the  peaceable  and  friendly  attitude  which  they  have  always  maintained  toward  the 


12 


Government;  of  the  general  indifference  with  which  their  interests  have  been  hitherto 
regarded  by  the  Government ;  of  the  supposed  injustice  and  wrong  of  which  they  be¬ 
lieve  themselves  to  be  the  subjects  ;  of  their  helplessness  in  the  presence  of  an  increas¬ 
ing  immigration,  which,  with  the  sanction  of  the  law,  is  driving  them  from  their  homes, 
and  seizing,  without  remuneration,  upon  possessions  which  they  claim  as  their  own  ; 
of  the  extremity  to  which  they  are  reduced,  now  that  nearly  all  the  land  available  for 
their  use  has  been  taken  up,  an  appeal  is  made  to  the  Government  that  it  will  at  length 
interpose  its  offices  in  their  behalf,  and  take  such  action  as  will  secure  them  in  the  un¬ 
disturbed  enjoyment  of  their  rights  and  in  the  possession  of  homes  which  settlers 
shall  not  be  permitted  to  take  from  them.  When  this  appeal  is  made  to  an  adminis¬ 
tration  which  has  signalized  itself  by  the  just  and  humane  policy  it  has  adopted  to¬ 
ward  the  Indians,  I  cannot  think  that  it  will  be  in  vain.  If  other  arguments  or  voices 
are  needed  to  induce  action  on  the  part  of  the  Government  in  this  matter,  I  would 
refer  to  the  reports  of  former  agents  who  have  had  to  do  with  the  mission  Indians,  nearly 
all  of  whom  have  earnestly  recommended  that  provision  should  be  made  for  them  with¬ 
out  needless  delay. 

What  can  be  done  ? 

Many  suggestions  have  been  made  looking  to  a  solution  of  this  perplexing  question. 
Some  urge  the  policy  of  declaring  them  citizens,  and  then  letting  them  take  their 
chances  with  white  men  in  securing  lands  under  the  homestead  act.  To  say  nothing, 
however,  of  their  general  want  of  qualification  for  citizenship,  nor  of  the  improbability 
of  their  soon  attempting  to  avail  themselves  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  there  is  little 
or  no  land  in  Southern  California  from  which  they  could  gain  a  livelihood  open  to 
them.  Almost  all  the  land  fit  for  agricultural  purposes  has  been  taken  up  by  settlers, 
or  is  claimed  under  Mexican  grants.  The  case  would  probably  be  very  different  were 
all  spurious  grant-claims  disallowed,  and  the  boundaries  of  all  genuine  claims  accu¬ 
rately  defined,  and  the  owners  compelled  to  observe  these  limits.  The  Government 
would  undoubtedly  then  find  itself  to  be  the  possessor  of  many  thousands  of  acres  now 
claimed  by  private  parties.  There  might  then  be  good  laud  enough  for  the  Indians 
and  to  spare.  There  is  not  now.  And  to  adopt  the  policy  suggested  would  be  only 
prejudicial  to  the  Indians’  true  interests. 

Some  advise  that  they  be  let  alone,  and  left  as  heretofore  to  take  care  of  themselves, 
a  policy  which  has  already  borne  poisonous  fruit,  and  which  would  result  in  the  still 
greater  demoralization  of  both  Indians  and  whites,  to  say  nothing  of  the  bitter  and 
hostile  feelings  which  such  a  course  would  engender  among  the  former.  It  is  not 
improbable  that  even  the  Mission  Indians  might  then  be  provoked «to  acts  of  hostility, 
insane  as  such  conduct  might  appear  to  us. 

Others  recommend  that  they  be  removed  to  a  distance  from  their  present  location, 
and  be  established  on  a  reservation  to  be  set  apart  for  them  either  in  Arizona  or  in 
some  part  of  California  remote  from  white  settlements,  where  there  will  be  least  lia¬ 
bility  of  trouble  between  them  and  settlers.  This  course  is  advised  by  the  press  of 
San  Diego,  and  would  without  doubt  be  satisfactory  to  a  large  portion  of  the  white 
population  of  San  Diego  County.  The  arguments  advanced  in  its  support  are  chiefly 
to  the  effect  that  the  area  of  agricultural  lands  in  San  Diego  County  is  so  limited  that 
it  ought  all  to  be  reserved  for  white  men  ;  that  the  presence  of  the  Indian  oj>erates,  and 
will  continue  to  operate,  as  a  hinderance  to  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the 
country,  and  that  only  increasing  demoralization  can  be  expected  from  the  continued 
contact  of  the  Indians  with  the  whites. 

This  would  certainly  be  a  simple  solution  of  the  problem  if  it  were  practicable  and 
just,  neither  of  which  can  I  think  it  to  be. 

The  recommendation  does  not  contemplate,  except  in  a  most  indirect  way,  the  wel¬ 
fare  of  the  Indian.  It  ignores  all  rights  he  may  be  supposed  to  have  in  the  laud  he 
now  occupies,  and  disregards  any  preference  he  may  cherish  in  regard  to  his  future  lo¬ 
cation.  It  is  suggested  simply  by  a  desire  that  that  section  of  country  may  be  rid  of  a 
population  regarded  by  many  as  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  their  own  prosperity,  requir¬ 
ing  for  their  support  some  portion  of  the  good  laud  whose  possession  is  coveted  for 
white  settlers.  It  would,  if  undertaken,  be  a  purely  arbitrary  measure,  and  could  only 
be  executed  by  force,  as  the  Indians  would  not  voluntarily  relinquish  their  present 
homes  to  be  transferred  to  some  distant  and  unknown  region. 

Nor  am  I  disposed  to  think  that  their  being  permitted  to  remain  in  the  country  and 
to  occupy  arable  lands  will  retard  agricultural  development.  On  the  contrary,  I  be¬ 
lieve  that  if  subject  to  judicious  oversight  and  direction,  and  made  secure  in  the  pos¬ 
session  of  lands,  such  lands  would  soon  yield  under  their  management  as  large  returns 
as  would  result  if  they  were  in  the  hands  of  white  men.  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  but 
that  in  a  few  years  many  of  them  would  become  skillful  farmers,  whose  peaceful  la-* 
bors  would  tend  to  increase  from  year  to  year  the  aggregate  wealth  of  the  community. 
But  even  if  this  were  altogether  doubtful,  I  think  the  dictates  of  justice  and  wisdom 
would  forbid  the  approval  of  the  plan  above  suggested  on  the  part  of  the  Government. 


13  ' 


MEASURES  OF  RELIEF  RECOMMENDED. 

It  remains  for  me  to  indicate  the  measures  that  commend  themselves  to  my  judg¬ 
ment  as  most  judicious  in  the  premises. 

I  recommend — 

In  regard  to  the  San  Luis  Ley  Indians— That,  wherever  they  are  now  found  located 
upon  Government  lands,  such  lands  he  set  aside  for  their  use,  to  the  amount  of  not 
exceeding  forty  acres  to  every  head  of  a  family  and  to  every  unmarried  adult  male 
Indian;  that  for  such  of  the  tribe  as  are  now  settled  upon  land  owned  by  private 
parties,  the  unappropriated  land  in  Pala  and  the  adjacent  township  9  south,  ranges 
1  and  2  west,  San  Bernardino  meridian,  be  reserved  to  be  distributed  in  portions 
not  to  exceed  forty  acres  to  each  head  of  a  family  and  to  each  unmarried  adult  male 
Indian.  The  undivided  portion  to  be  held  in  common  for  purposes  of  pasturage. 
These. townships  formed  a  part  of  the  reservation  set  apart  for  the  Mission  Indians  in 
A.  D.  1870,  but  subsequently  restored  to  the  public  domain. 

Pala  is  the  site  of  one  of  the  old  Catholic  mission  churches,  and  a  place  to  which 
many  of  the  Indians  are  still  attached.  Some  of  the  best  lands  of  these  townships  have 
been  taken  by  settlers,  but  there  remains  enough,  I  think,  to  provide  adequately  for 
such  of  the  tribe  as  are  not  otherwise  provided  for.  There  is  water  in  the  San  Luis 
Key  Eiver,  which  flows  through  the  valley,  sufficient  for  purposes  of  irrigation  if  the 
Indians  be  properly  located  and  the  water  equitably  distributed.  Considerable  ex¬ 
pense  will  attend  such  distribution,  as  the  water  must  he  conducted  long  distances  in 
ditches  in  order  to  be  available  for  any  large  extent  of  territory.  The  land,  however, 
cannot  otherwise  be  made  productive,  and  I  think  the  result  will  justify  all  necessary 
expenditure. 

The  Indians  who  own  lands  in  their  own  rights  should  he  strongly  urged  to  retain 
them  in  their  position  and  to  transmit  them  to  posterity. 

Concerning  the  question  of  the  chieftainship  of  this  tribe  above  referred  to,  I  recom¬ 
mend  that  a  new  election  be  allowed,  as  the  large  majority  desire,  to  be  held  at  such 
time  as  the  agent  deems  best,  with  the  distinct  understanding  that  if  any  portion  of 
the  tribe  should  object  to  being  put  under  the  chief  then  elected,  they  would  be  held 
as  exempt  from  his  jurisdiction  on  the  condition  of  their  renouncing  their  tribal  rela¬ 
tion  and  registering  themselves  as  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

I  advise  this  course  the  more  readily  from  a  persuasion  that  if  any  avail  themselves 
of  this  provision  it  will  be  a  few  of  the  more  intelligent  of  the  tribe. 

In  regard  to  the  Diegenes — I  recommend  that  townships  12  south,  range  1  north  and 
1  east,  and  13  south,  range  1  north  and  1  east,  San  Bernardino  meridian,  be  set  aside  as 
a  reservation  for  their  use.  This  will  involve  an  expenditure  of  several  thousand 
dollars  in  the  purchase  of  improvements  made  by  settlers,  which  improvements,  how¬ 
ever,  would  then  redound  to  the  benefit  of  the  Indians. 

These  townships  constituted  a  part  of  the  reservation  above  alluded  to,  and  include 
lands  by  far  the  most  available  in  San  Diego  County  for  the  purposes  in  view.  I  re¬ 
gard  it  as  most  unfortunate  that  the  order  designating  Pala  and  San  Pasqual  as  an  In¬ 
dian  reservation  was  ever  revoked,  and  am  convinced  that  this  step  would  never  have 
been  taken  had  not  utterly  false  representations  been  made  to  the  authorities  in  Wash¬ 
ington. 

The  expense  and  difficulty  of  satisfactorily  settling  this  Mission  Indian  question 
have,  in  my  judgment,  been  very  much  increased  by  such  action. 

If  it  be  deemed  inexpedient  by  the  Department  to  purchase  the  improvements  re¬ 
ferred  to  above,  I  then  suggest  that  the  lands  of  these  townships,  not  already  taken 
up,  be  withdrawn  from  sale  and  reserved  for  these  Indians. 

The  only  alternative  provision  that  presents  itself  to  my  mind  is  the  purchase  of 
some  private  grant.  This  would  be  attended  with  large  expense,  and  in  my  view  no 
grant  lands  can  be  found  which  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  case  as  fully  as  the 
San  Pasqual  Valley,  included  in  the  townships  above  mentioned.  For  further  testi¬ 
mony  concerning  Pala  and  San  Pasqual,  I  would  respectfully  refer  to  reports  as  fol¬ 
lows,  viz :  Special  report  of  B.  C.  Whiting,  superintendent  for  California,  under  date 
of  December  6,  1867,  and  special  report  of  General  J.  B.  McIntosh,  superintendent  for 
California,  under  date  of  August  25,  1869. 

For  the  Coahuila  Indians — I  recommend  the  purchase  of  from  five  thousand  to  ten 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  San  Bernardino  County,  upon  which  the  now  scattered  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  tribe  shall  be  located.  Available  land  can,  I  think,  be  found  near  the  base 
of  the  San  Bernardino  Mountains,  which  can  be  secured  at  a  not  unreasonable  rate. 
Should  this  be  regarded  as  impracticable,  I  then  recommend  that  the  Government  lands 
upon  which  these  Indians  are  now  living  be  reserved  for  their  use,  viz,  the  Coahuila 
Valley,  in  San  Diego  County  ;  the  Potrero,  near  San  Gorgonio  Pass,  San  Bernardino 
County,  and  such  other  smaller  portions  of  land  as  they  now  occupy  and  cultivate,  and 
that  such  of  the  tribe  as  are  now  settled  upon  lands  owned  by  private  parties  be  re¬ 
moved  to  said  reserved  lands.  If  this  course  be  adopted  all  white  settlers  upon  these 
lands  should  at  once  be  required  to  vacate  them. 

The  chief  objections  to  this  policy  are,  first,  that  it  will  leave  the  tribe  very  much 


14 


•scattered,  and  greatly  hinder  the  cultivation  of  such  knowledge  and  hahits  as  will 
tend  to  render  them  intelligent  and  useful  citizens  of  the  republic;  and,  secondly,  the 
fact  that  the  Coahuila  Valley  is  not  available  for  agricultural  purposes,  being  subject 
to  frost  every  month  of  the  year,  and  that  the  lands  bordering  the  desert  beyond  the 
San  Gorgonio  Pass  afford  but  an  insufficient  and  precarious  subsistence. 

In  regard  to  the  settlement  of  Indians  upon  reserved  lands,  I  think  it  very  import¬ 
ant  that,  while  the  grazing  lands  may  be  held  in  common,  the  agricultural  lands 
should  be  distributed  in  clearly  defined  portions  among  the  individual  families  of  the 
tribe,  and  that  each  family  should  be  held  responsible  for  the  cultivation  of  its  assigned 
portions.  I  suggest  furthermore  that  each  family  be  assured  of  the  possession  of  all 
the  proceeds  of  the  lauds  thus  cultivated,  and  the  ultimate  possession  in  fee-simple  of 
the  land  itself,  provided  they  continue  to  reside  upon  and  to  improve  it  for  the  space 
of  twelve  years. 

It  is  for  many  reasons  very  desirable  to  break  up  the  communistic  customs  which 
have  prevailed  among  them,  and  to  cultivate,  as  far  as  possible,  a  sense  and  pride  of 
ownership  and  an  ambition  for  the  accumulation  of  property. 

The  Government  should  give  the  Indians  clearly  to  understand  that  they  must  sup¬ 
port  themselves  after  such  provision  shall  have  been  made  for  them  as  their  present 
necessities  require.  I  see  no  reason  for  thinking  that  they  will  not  do  this  if  they 
shall  be  made  secure  in  the  jiossession  of  land,  and  shall  be  put  under  judicious  super¬ 
vision.  I  should  decidedly  oppose  the  issuing  of  rations,  or  any  other  action  which 
would  lead  them  to  suppose  that  they  would  be  taken  care  of  without  effort  on  their 
part,  but  should  encourage  the  idea  that  they  would  fare  best  who  were  most  indus¬ 
trious.  The  Indians  assert  their  willingness  to  labor,  and  say  they  neither  intend  nor 
wish  to  be  a  burden  to  the  Government. 

I  feel  confident  that  if  the  opportunities  above  suggested  are  afforded  them,  they 
will  themselves  soon  defray  all  the  expenses  of  the  agency  charged  with  their  care. 
More  than  this,  I  cherish  the  hope  that  they  will  at  no  distant  day  become  prosperous 
and  independent  agricultural  communities. 

Some  may  think  it  would  be  better  to  locate  all  the  Mission  Indians  on  a  single  res¬ 
ervation,  and  for  many  reasons  this  would  be  preferable.  The  great  difficulty,  how¬ 
ever,  in  finding  a  sufficiently  large  tract  of  land  suited  for  the  purposes  of  a  reserva¬ 
tion  is  a  very  serious  obstacle  to  such  a  course.  This  difficulty  arises  not  from  any 
lack  of  unoccupied  land,  of  which  there  are  large  areas  in  southern  California,  but 
from  lack  of  well  watered  land.  Water  is  an  absolutely  indispensable  requisite  for  an 
Indian  settlement,  large  or  small.  It  w’ould  be  worse  than  folly  to  attempt  to  locate 
them  on  land  destitute  of  water,  and  that  in  sufficient  quantity  for  the  purposes  of 
irrigation,  if  crops  cannot  be  grown  without  irrigation.  Moreover,  I  think  their  pro¬ 
gress  toward  civilization  and  citizenship  will  be  best  promoted  by  the  tribes  being 
separately  located,  while  the  expense  incurred  wfill  not  be  largely  increased  thereby. 

In  the  plan  above  suggested  another  difficulty  is  obviated,  viz,  that  of  persuading 
the  Indians  to  remove  to  a  distance  from  the  places  they  now  occupy.  They  prefer,  as 
is  natural,  to  be  left  wrhere  they  are,  and  will  doubtless  object  in  some  instances  to 
moving  to  any  reservation.  I  think,  however,  there  will,  for  the  most  part,  be  a  readi¬ 
ness  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the  Government,  if  it  shall  be  seen  that  the  Govern¬ 
ment  is  disposed  to  regard  their  wishes  in  locating  them  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
places  to  which  from  association  they  are  attached,  and  also  in  keeping  the  tribes 
distinct  from  each  other. 

Should  it  be  found  practicable  thus  to  locate  these  Indians,  I  would  earnestly  re¬ 
commend  that  schools  be  established  among  them  as  soon  as  possible,  regarding  it  as 
very  much  to  be  desired  that  the  children  should  learn  to  speak  the  English  language, 
and  be  taught  at  least  the  rudiments  of  education.  It  was  one  of  their  special  requests 
that  this  should  be  done,  showing  some  appreciation  of  the  advantages  which  educa¬ 
tion  gives,  and  of  the  changed  circumstances  under  which  their  children  are  to  live. 

I  furthermore  recommend  that  for  the  supply  of  their  present  wauts  there  be  provi¬ 
ded — 

For  the  San  Luis  Fey  Indians: 


150  blankets. 

100  suits  of  clothes. 
100  hats. 

100  pair  of  shoes. 
100  pair  of  socks. 


1,000  yards  of  calico. 
1,000  yards  of  muslin. 
500  yards  of  jean. 
250  yards  of  flannel. 
250  handkerchiefs. 

For  the  Digenes : 


10  plows. 

10  sets  of  plow-haruess. 
50  hoes. 

10  spades. 

20  shovels. 


150  blankets, 

100  suits  of  clothes. 
100  hats. 

100  pair  of  shoes. 
100  pair  of  socks. 


1,(J00  yards  of  calico. 
1,000  yards  of  muslin. 
500  yards  of  jean. 
250  yards  of  flannel 
250  handkerchiefs. 


10  plows. 

10  sets  of  plow-harness. 
10  spades. 

50  hoes. 

20  shovels. 


15 


300  blankets. 

200  suits  of  clothes. 
200  bats. 

200  pair  of  shoes. 
200  iiair  of  socks. 


For  the  Coahiiilas : 

1,500  yards  of  calico. 
1,500  yards  of  muslin. 
1,000  yards  of  jeau. 

500  handkerchiefs. 

500  yards  of  flannel. 


10  plows. 

10  sets  plow-harness. 
50  hoes. 

20  spades. 

20  shovels. 


Also  for  each  tribe  a  sufficient  amount  of  grain  and  seed  for  sowing  and  planting  the 
coming  year. 

Such  present  provision  being  made  for  them,  it  is  my  hope  that  very  little  aid  of  this 
kind  will  be  required  in  the  future. 

The  adoption  of  the  policy  above  suggested  will  necessitate  the  appointment  of  a 
permanent  agent  for  these  Indians.  Upon  his  practical  wisdom,  honesty,  and  fidelity, 
the  results  of  this  effort  in  their  behalf  will  largely  depend.  If  the  effort  be  judiciously 
prosecuted  under  the  direction  of  an  agent  who  is  fully  in  sympathy  with  the  Indians, 
and  who  regards  their  good  rather  than  his  own  pecuniary  gains,  I  cannot  but  feel 
that  it  will  greatly  redound  to  the  credit  of  the  Government,  and  to  the  increasing 
welfare  of  these,  its  wards,  who  now  appeal  to  it  for  aid  and  protection. 

In  conclusion  I  beg  to  say  that  these  recommendations  are  submitted  the  more  confi¬ 
dently,  whatever  expenditure  their  adoption  may  involve,  from  the  conviction  that  the 
Government  has  been  very  remiss  in  its  care  of  the  Mission  Indians  hitherto  ;  that 
their  claims  and  their  rights  have  been  already  too  long  disregarded;  that  they  deserve 
generous  treatment  because  of  their  fidelity  to  the  Government ;  standing,  as  some  of 
them  have  done,  as  a  defense  to  the  settlers  of  southern  California,  against  the  fiercer 
tribes  of  Arizona,  with  whom  they  have  steadily  refused  to  unite  for  purposes  of  plun¬ 
der,  that  they  ought  not  to  suffer  in  comparison  with  others  of  their  race,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  their  snore  peaceable  conduct  and  disposition  ;  and  finally,  that  nothing  less 
will  suffice  as  a  satisfactory  and  adequate  provision  in  their  behalf. 

In  the  hope  that  these  recommendations  will  meet  with  your  hearty  approval,  and 
whatever  legislation  may  be  necessary  to  enable  the  Department  to  carry  them  into 
execution  may  be  readily  secured, 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

JOHN  G.  AMES,  ' 
Special  Agent. 

Hon.  E.  P.  Smith, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington ,  D.  C. 


o 


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